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Ahead of the Ondo governorship election, there are concerns about vote-buying as politicians are offering food and cash to residents before election day.
Observations on the ground reveal that staple goods such as rice, noodles, maize, and fertilizers are being distributed as part of last-minute efforts to gain voter support.
In Ifedore Local Government Area, community leader Joseph Ayeni said a prominent party distributed rice and noodles to residents, framing it as a “goodwill gesture” from the candidate.
“They came with packs of noodles and bags of rice, saying it was from the governorship candidate,” Ayeni told Daily Trust.
Elsewhere, some farmers reported receiving items such as maize, fertilizers, and pesticides from another party.
A farmer, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “They distributed these during their campaign, saying they couldn’t visit without bringing something for us.”
Recall that Yiaga Africa, an election monitoring group, recently raised concerns over alleged vote-buying incidents.
Safiya Bichi, Yiaga Africa’s Head of Knowledge, Management, and Learning, revealed that vote inducement is becoming increasingly prevalent in local government areas like Akure South, Ifedore, and Owo.
Bichi reported that party leaders are coordinating with community heads to disperse food items and cash to infleucne the election’s outcome.
She urged security agencies to take preventive steps, stressing the importance of ensuring a safe and fair election.
“Safeguarding voters, election officials, and participants is essential to uphold electoral integrity and prevent violence during the election,” Bichi stated.